Page 71 of Unfolding Kiara

Katherine sipped on her glass of water, “I always feel wet.”

My eyes widened, and I looked past her enormous baby bump to see if she was wet or not. She was six months pregnant, so I was sure she couldn’t have her water break but what was she talking about.

Anya, who was sitting beside me, nodded at my friend and sipped her wine. “I understand. And not even the sexy wet.”

“Yes! It’s like I might have peed myself, but I know I haven’t.”

I exhaled a sharp breath looking at my friends, “Wow.”

We were all invited to Katherine and Ryan’s co-ed baby shower. By we, I mean, all our high school friends and it was like a reunion. I had already met Rio, Volt, and Becky with his two sons and Liam. There was noticeable tension between Liam and me, but Ethan was by my side making it less awkward. They both had arrived together after their swim practice while Anya, Andrew, and I arrived together.

Katherine rolled her eyes and adjusted her satin dress which hugged her beautiful curvy body. I was almost jealous. “Oh, hush, you. When you get pregnant, you will know what we are talking about.”

My eyes darted to my stomach, and I clenched my jaw. I took the glass of water placed on the table and gulped it down. I wanted to be pregnant and hoped I would be as soon as possible.

Anya cleared her throat and asked, “So, how is everything going with Ethan?”

“Ethan,huh?” Katherine gave me a sly smirk and glanced at the round table next to us.

The baby shower was held in their backyard and decorated with baby blue and white flowers and curtains as she was pregnant with a baby boy. Ryan, Ethan, Liam, Rio, and Volt sat at the other table with their other friends. My eyes couldn’t stay away from Ethan, and I clenched my legs as I saw him grinning at something Rio said. He looked absolutely beautiful and devilishly handsome when he was happy.

Fuck, it should be illegal for him to be this handsome.

He turned my way, his blue-green eyes twinkling in the warm evening sunlight. I took a sharp breath when he winked at me and eyed me shamelessly. I felt a hot prickling sensation, and even though I was wearing a dress, I felt naked under his piercing gaze. I looked away first, trying to forget how delicious he looked in a crisp white shirt.

I cleared my throat and replied to Anya’s question. “Everything with Ethan is going great. More than great, actually.” I squeezed my legs together, desperate for some friction, and surprising myself when I found my thong drenched. “We are getting along well.”

Really well.

Ethan’s determination and stamina were way beyond the previous partners I had shared a bed with. I missed the way the body gets sore after a solid day of excessive intimacy. I cherished it.

Katherine cooed, “The way Ethan has been looking at you, it seems like high school all over again. Reminds me of good old days.”

I made a face that made both of them laugh at me.

Anya leaned toward Katherine, “Oh, really? How was Kiara when she was a teenager?”

Here we go.

“Oh, she was a spitfire. She still is, but she is more tamed.”

I heard Ethan cough in his fist, trying to stop himself from grinning. I shot him a glare and fixed my eyes anywhere but on my friends or him.

Katherine continued, “She had this, I am sure she still has it, huge crush on Ethan, and Ethan had a crush on her as well, but they didn’t want to ruin their friendship. They were so cute, I swear to God. They still are! They can’t even stop looking at each other—”

Thankfully, Ryan came to my rescue and kissed his wife’s cheek. “Okay, stop it you two. Kiara has turned into a tomato. Come on, it’s time for cake.”

* * *

Watching everyone reuniting, eating sweets, and congratulating Katherine made my heart melt. Andrew was playing with Volt’s sons while Anya subtly tried to update me about Jake. I had tried to stay far away from the media articles and videos regarding our breakup because I knew they would be filled with rumors. When Anya told me he was doing well with Stacy and slowly reuniting with Ben, despite all that had happened between us, I was happy for him. He had a family to take care of and hopefully soon, so would I.

I was trying to hide in the washroom for a while because I needed some time to myself before going outside to mingle with everyone. It had been overwhelming to see so many kids and hear mothers coo at Katherine’s cute baby bump. I missed my mother and couldn’t stop myself from thinking about how I would look during the pregnancy.

Someone knocked on the door, and I jumped. I patted my hair in the mirror’s reflection and muttered, “I’ll be out in a second!”

“Bella,” Ethan said, “Open up, I need to see you.”

My heart ached in my chest as I swallowed the lump in my throat. One of the major reasons I was hiding was because Ethan was affecting me. He didn’t leave my side for a second unless either of our friends needed us. He had wrapped his arm around my waist and pressed me tightly to his robust chest, muttering, “I can’t wait to see you pregnant with a baby bump.” It had brought tears to my eyes thinking about it.

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